Fig. 1.

A: effects of resveratrol (Res) treatment on relaxation responses to acetylcholine in ring preparations of carotid arteries of control rats and rats exposed to cigarette smoke (smoking; see MATERIALS AND METHODS). Data are means ± SE; n = 6 animals for each group. B: effects of Res treatment on O₂ ^•− generation in vessels of control rats and rats exposed to cigarette smoke. O₂ ^•− generation was determined by the lucigenin (5 µmol/l) chemiluminescence (CL) method. Data are normalized to the mean value of the untreated control group. Data are means ± SE. C: representative fluorescent photomicrographs showing increased nuclear ethidium bromide (EB) fluorescence in endothelial cells (arrows) in sections of carotid arteries of rats exposed to cigarette smoke compared with vessels of control rats. Vessels were incubated with the dye dihydroethidium, which produces a red nuclear fluorescence when oxidized to EB by O₂ ^•−. Res treatment prevented smoking-induced increases in vascular O₂ ^•− production. Green autofluorescence of elastic laminae is shown for orientation purposes. Lu, lumen; M, media; Ad, adventitia. D: effects of Res treatment on O₂ ^•− generation by myocardium of control rats and rats exposed to cigarette smoke (with or without Res treatment). O₂ ^•− generation was determined by the lucigenin (5 µmol/l) CL method. Data are means ± SE. *P <0.05 vs. untreated; #P <0.05 vs. no Res. AU, arbitrary units.